Nieves, taken 59th overall at the 2012 draft, enjoyed an impressive four-year career at the University of Michigan before turning pro last season. He signed his entry-level deal in March, played eight games with AHL Hartford — scoring five points — then got off to a good start with the Wolf Pack this season, notching six points in 13 games prior to his recall on Monday afternoon.

The 22-year-old’s debut comes at the expense of Chris Kreider, currently sidelined with an upper-body injury, and Pavel Buchnevich, who is out with back spasms.

Pekka Rinne, fresh off being named the NHL’s third star of the week, has suffered a lower-body injury — one that will keep him sidelined day-to-day — meaning Marek Mazanec will make just his second start of the year on Tuesday in Toronto.

Mazanec, who inherited the backup gig from now-departed Carter Hutton, has struggled this year, posting a 5.06 GAA and .806 save percentage. Those struggles led to Nashville recalling prospect Juuse Saros from AHL Milwaukee last week, after Saros had previously done well — back on Oct. 22, he stopped 34 of 35 shots in Nashville’s 5-1 win over Pittsburgh.

So needless to say, the pressure is on Mazanec just a bit.

In terms of the big picture, though, the loss of Rinne is the main focus. After some erratic play to start the year, the veteran Finn looked terrific last week, posting a 3-0-0 record with a 0.67 GAA, .976 save percentage and one shutout.

Given how uneven Nashville had been to start the year, it was an important series of performances.

— Craig Anderson, who’s been red-hot in November (1.77 GAA, .947 save percentage) will go for Ottawa. The Flyers will counter with Steve Mason, who should be the No. 1 for the foreseeable future with Michal Neuvirth sidelined by injury.

— Aaron Dell makes just his second start of the year when the Sharks take on Carolina. Cam Ward appears likely for the ‘Canes.

— Rarity for the Caps, as Philip Grubauer will make his second straight start (Braden Holtby faces the Penguins tomorrow). Host Columbus is going with Sergei Bobrovsky, as per usual.

There’s something new going on in Columbus — head coach John Tortorella will no longer require players to show up at the rink on game day mornings.

“We bring them in here one time a day on practice days, but on game days we bring them in twice,” Tortorella told the Columbus Dispatch. “It doesn’t make any sense. With our schedule coming up the way it is, we are trying to get our guys out of the building as much as we can.”

Per the Dispatch, Tortorella is the first coach in franchise history to implement this policy, adding that no previous bench boss has given the club more days off in between games.

The move, it would appear, is in lockstep with the franchise’s desire to keep players as fresh and healthy as possible.

Injuries have been a major issue in Columbus over the last few years. Which is why it was no huge surprise when the Jackets announced in July that they’d hired a “high performance” consultant by the name of Nelson Ayotte. The idea in bringing Ayotte aboard was to “bridge the gap between the medical staff and the staff of strength and conditioning coach Kevin Collins, so that players don’t get injured and injured players get comprehensive treatment that gets them back on the ice quickly.”

Q: How about the goaltending? The numbers aren’t good right now, does that concern you?

Nill: “The numbers aren’t good, but at the same time I get back to the injuries and the team that’s in front of them. It’s a challenge for both of them, and I think there have been times when they have really stepped up. I think they both had great training camps, and they both have stepped up a times. We just need to strive to improve every game, but that’s the same for the whole team.”

Q: Could you be looking for an upgrade if one presents itself?

Nill: “I’m not even worried about that. I’m worried about our team right now.”

Having lost three of their last five — and having only scored eight goals over that span — the Wild are no doubt excited to get one of their best forwards back into the lineup tonight versus Calgary.

Zach Parise, who has missed the last six games with a foot injury, will make his return this evening, per the Star-Tribune. The 32-year-old hasn’t played since a 4-0 win over Buffalo back on Oct. 27, and his ailment derailed what was a very solid start to the campaign.

Minnesota will no doubt hope that Parise’s return to health is something of a foreshadow for the rest of the club. The Wild have dealt with a rash of injuries lately and, because of salary cap concerns, have been rotating through AHL recalls at forward. Erik Haula returned from injury five days ago, and it looks like Haula could play on a line with Parise and Jason Pominville tonight.